A WATER company was flooded with 10 times its usual amount of calls after Christmas.

United Utilities said that melting snow brought about an unprecedented number of customers reporting leaks and bursts pipes.

Since Christmas Eve, the company has taken 40,000 calls in the North West.

A United Utilities spokesman explained that, as ice melts, the ground can move putting unusual amounts of stress on the network’s pipes.

This can cause the pipes to leak or burst.

Above ground as frozen pipework in homes and businesses thaws out bursts and leaks are also common.

Scott Beard, United Utilities’ regional water network manager, said: “We are fully geared up, with extra call takers, engineers and specialist leak detection teams all giving up their holidays and working round the clock.

“We have also brought in additional 4x4 vehicles, to make sure our engineers can get to more remote areas which are still snow bound.”

He also called on the public to help by checking on any empty properties where they hold the keys such as business premises or neighbours’ homes.

Customers are being urged to report any leaks or bursts in the street on freephone leak line 0800 33 00 33.